Arterial blood flow to the right leg of the patients is interrupted by inflating a cuff around the thigh up to a pressure of 15 mmHg above the systolic blood pressure for five minutes. Thereafter the pressure is released for another five minutes and the procedure is repeated fourfold. Cerebral and myocardial damage are examined by postoperative laboratory exams in comparison to preoperative baseline values. In addition to this, systemic immune response, renal function, duration of intensive care and time to discharge from hospital are compared between groups. Mechanisms of remote preconditioning are investigated by analyzing gene expression in human heart tissue obtained during surgery and in leukocytes.